Newcastle, Lost Cemeteries 1842-1902

Newcastle, NSW has a long history of burial grounds from the nineteenth century, that have since been converted into open parks or building sites. The first burials for all denominations took place adjacent to Christ Church, a Church of England cemetery which existed from 1804 to 1884. For the benefit of Congregationalists, Roman Catholics and Wesleyan Methodists, three new burial grounds were opened in Newcastle West (Cottage Creek) between 1842 and 1858. All four sites were abandoned in 1881 when Sandgate Cemetery (www.sandgatecemetery.org.au) was established. As the mining townships developed and grew in size, the mine owners in those localities provided cemeteries at Minmi (from the 1860s), Old Wallsend 1863 to 1896), and Wallsend (1896 to date). Other burial places include St Andrew’s Churchyard, Mayfield which operated from 1862 until 1902 and Stockton Cemetery (1890 to date).